UJobe 21
1 Wasephendula uJobe wathi:
Then Job answered,
2 Zwanini lilalele ilizwi lami, lalokho kube zinduduzo zenu.
“Listen diligently to my speech. Let this be your consolation.
3 Ngibekezelelani, ukuthi mina ngikhulume; lemva kokukhuluma kwami lingakloloda.
Allow me, and I also will speak. After I have spoken, mock on.
4 Mina-ke ukusola kwami kusemuntwini yini? Kodwa uba kunjalo, kungani umoya wami ungekhathazeke?
As for me, is my complaint to man? Why shouldn’t I be impatient?
5 Ngikhangelani, likhakhamale, libeke isandla phezu komlomo.
Look at me, and be astonished. Lay your hand on your mouth.
6 Yebo, lapho ngikhumbula, ngitshaywa luvalo, lokuthuthumela kubamba inyama yami.
When I remember, I am troubled. Horror takes hold of my flesh.
7 Ababi baphilelani, babe badala, yebo, bakhule emandleni?
“Why do the wicked live, become old, yes, and grow mighty in power?
8 Inzalo yabo izinze phambi kwabo kanye labo, lembewu yabo emehlweni abo.
Their child is established with them in their sight, their offspring before their eyes.
9 Izindlu zabo zilokuthula kungelakwesaba, loswazi lukaNkulunkulu kaluphezu kwabo.
Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.
10 Inkunzi yakhe iyakhwela ingaphuthi; inkomokazi yakhe iyazala, ingaphunzi.
Their bulls breed without fail. Their cows calve, and don’t miscarry.
11 Bakhupha abantwanyana babo njengomhlambi, labantwana babo bayagida.
They send out their little ones like a flock. Their children dance.
12 Baphakamisa ilizwi ngesigujana lechacho, bathokoze ngelizwi lomhlanga.
They sing to the tambourine and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
They spend their days in prosperity. In an instant they go down to Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
14 Babesebesithi kuNkulunkulu: Suka kithi; ngoba kasifisi ulwazi lwendlela zakho.
They tell God, ‘Depart from us, for we don’t want to know about your ways.
15 Uyini uSomandla ukuthi simkhonze? Sizazuzani uba simncenga?
What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What profit should we have, if we pray to him?’
16 Khangela, okuhle kwabo kakukho esandleni sabo; icebo lababi likhatshana lami.
Behold, their prosperity is not in their hand. The counsel of the wicked is far from me.
17 Kukangaki isibane sababi sicitshwa, kusiza ukuchitheka kwabo phezu kwabo! UNkulunkulu ubabela ubuhlungu elakeni lwakhe.
“How often is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out, that their calamity comes on them, that God distributes sorrows in his anger?
18 Banjengamahlanga phambi komoya, lanjengomule isiphepho esiwuphephulayo.
How often is it that they are as stubble before the wind, as chaff that the storm carries away?
19 UNkulunkulu ubekela abantwana bakhe usizi lwakhe. Uyamvuza, njalo uzakwazi.
You say, ‘God lays up his iniquity for his children.’ Let him recompense it to himself, that he may know it.
20 Amehlo akhe azabona ukuchitheka kwakhe, anathe okolaka lukaSomandla.
Let his own eyes see his destruction. Let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
21 Ngoba iyini intokozo yakhe endlini yakhe emva kwakhe, lapho inani lenyanga zakhe liqunywa?
For what does he care for his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off?
22 Kukhona ongafundisa uNkulunkulu ulwazi yini? Ngoba yena wehlulela abaphezulu.
“Shall any teach God knowledge, since he judges those who are high?
23 Lo uyafa esemandleni akhe apheleleyo, yena wonke onwabile, elokuthula.
One dies in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.
24 Iziphathelo zakhe zigcwele uchago, lomnkantsho wamathambo akhe umanzi.
His pails are full of milk. The marrow of his bones is moistened.
25 Lomunye ufa elomphefumulo obabayo, engadlanga kokuhle.
Another dies in bitterness of soul, and never tastes of good.
26 Balala ndawonye ethulini, lempethu zibasibekele.
They lie down alike in the dust. The worm covers them.
27 Khangelani, ngiyayazi imicabango yenu, lamacebo eliwaceba limelene lami.
“Behold, I know your thoughts, the plans with which you would wrong me.
28 Ngoba lithi: Ingaphi indlu yesiphathamandla? Njalo lingaphi ithente lendawo zababi zokuhlala?
For you say, ‘Where is the house of the prince? Where is the tent in which the wicked lived?’
29 Kalibabuzanga yini abadlula ngendlela, njalo kalinanzeleli iziboniso zabo?
Haven’t you asked wayfaring men? Don’t you know their evidences,
30 Ukuthi omubi uyekelwa osukwini lokubhujiswa; bazalethwa osukwini lwezintukuthelo.
that the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity, that they are led out to the day of wrath?
31 Ngubani ozamtshela indlela yakhe ebusweni? Ngubani ozamphindisela ngakwenzileyo?
Who will declare his way to his face? Who will repay him what he has done?
32 Kanti yena uzasiwa engcwabeni, lilindwe idundulu.
Yet he will be borne to the grave. Men will keep watch over the tomb.
33 Amagade esihotsha amnandi kuye, njalo udonsa wonke umuntu emva kwakhe, njengoba bengelakubalwa abaphambi kwakhe.
The clods of the valley will be sweet to him. All men will draw after him, as there were innumerable before him.
34 Pho lizangiduduza njani ngeze, ngoba empendulweni zenu kusele inkohliso?
So how can you comfort me with nonsense, because in your answers there remains only falsehood?”
